Rants & Raves: Rave for neighbors helping neighbors

Thursday

Jun 30, 2011 at 2:23 AM

Rave for neighbors helping neighbors

I live in Middleburg. I have the sweetest neighbors. Saturday I came home to find that two of my neighbors had decided, as on prior occasions, to mow my acre of yard for no reason except their kindness. From a single neighbor, thank you, guys. They say little things make a big difference so do BIG things like this.

Father teaches son respect and kindness

Recently at a favorite restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, it was our good fortune to be seated near a father and his 10-year- old son. The boy was very courteous and respectful and had impeccable table manners. They conversed, instead of the father ignoring his son. My friend and I, both elderly, could not help but smile in approval. ... Later, when we asked for our check, we were informed by the server that we owed nothing. Our tab had been paid, courtesy of the kind father and son.

Global warming complicated?

I am one of many who do not believe that man-made global warming is a fact as preached by Al Gore. But I may have to reconsider my thinking after hearing what Ted Turner said on the subject. According to Turner, the matter is "too complex and complicated" for the deniers to understand. Maybe I am not intelligent enough to understand what Gore, Turner and others want us to believe.

Small businesses are economic backbone

It seems that most of the c ongressional Republicans don't want to cut or drastically reduce corporate government subsidies or close tax loopholes. So it seems to me that the Republicans are continuing their support of the big business community. In contrast, I would rather see those subsidies and tax breaks go toward small businesses. I have always believed that small businesses are the genuine economic backbone of this country.

Fireworks should be banned in Duval

Florida is on fire! I called the office of my councilman, who happens to be the president of the Jacksonville City Council, to inquire why fireworks had not been banned as in St. Johns County; someone promised to call me back with an answer. Indeed they did; they called the fire marshal , who said that there is no imminent fire danger in Duval County because "we have the river on one side and the ocean on the other side." Am I missing something?

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